Minnesota Legislature from Minnesota Public Radio

Pawlenty wants constitutional amendment to limit spending

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:30:19 -0600

Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Thursday called for an amendment to the state Constitution that would cap state spending at an amount equal to what is raised by revenue.

Democrat Bakk urges Minn. special session

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:43:49 -0600

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Bakk is pressing for a special session to pass a construction projects bill before the end of the year.

Pawlenty defends budget-cutting authority

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:18:00 -0500

Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he thinks he's within his legal authority to balance the state's two-year budget on his own through a process known as unallotment.

State budget officials say tax collections fell short of projections

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:02:13 -0500

The state budget department says tax collections fell short of projections in the last quarter.

Minnesota pulls plug on Wisconsin tax reciprocity

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:58:18 -0500

The decision, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2010, means that people who live in one state but work in the other will have to file tax returns in both Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Lawmaker calls for higher gas tax

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:10:06 -0500

A member of the state Senate Transportation Committee says Minnesota will have to raise its gasoline tax to help pay for roads and bridges.

Union protests merit pay for MnSCU chiefs

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:21:22 -0500

The largest union in the MnSCU system is protesting the system's decision to award performance bonuses to its college presidents at a time when hundreds of other jobs are being eliminated.

State officials outline more budget cuts

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:07:03 -0500

The cuts will hit most state agencies in the budget year that begins next July, with the biggest reductions for the Revenue, Human Services and Natural Resources departments, as well as Metro Transit.

State agencies outline $11 million in budget cuts

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:59:03 -0500

Minnesota state agencies will spend less on everything from office supplies to managing parks and taxes to meet Gov. Tim Pawlenty's budget-cutting target.

Pawlenty says talks have begun for tax reciprocity deal

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:04:23 -0500

Gov. Tim Pawlenty confirmed Friday that talks have begun between Minnesota and Wisconsin in settling a bill over a decades-old tax pact.

Businesses stung as Pawlenty delays equipment tax refunds

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:40:20 -0500

Gov. Tim Pawlenty has argued recently that manufacturers should be exempt from paying sales tax on major equipment purchases. Now, as part of his $2.7 billion deficit fix, he's going to hang on to their cash longer.

Wisconsin officials yet to agree to Pawlenty's tax reciprocity request

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:00:00 -0500

One piece of Gov. Pawlenty's unallotment plan relies on Wisconsin agreeing to a faster payback of income tax revenue owed to Minnesota, but Wisconsin officials have not yet responded to the request.

Pay freeze approved for state employees

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:12:24 -0500

A two-year pay freeze for Minnesota state workers has cleared its last hurdle, with action today by a legislative commission. The pay freeze goes into effect on Wednesday.

Chief justice: Budget cuts could have been worse, but still hurt

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:47:39 -0500

Minnesota Chief Justice Eric Magnuson says the state of the judiciary right now is "OK." Magnuson says legislative budget cuts could have been much worse.

Advocates say budget cuts target most vulnerable

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:57:11 -0500

Homeless advocates say Gov. Tim Pawlenty's plan for unallotment will hit their clients particularly hard.